The House of Representatives has approved an additional ₱292.23 billion to the proposed 2025 budget for social services to assist disadvantaged Filipinos and ensure access to affordable food.
According to Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, this allocation is on top of the ₱591.8 billion already earmarked by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) under the 2025 National Expenditure Program.
These funds are included in the ₱6.352 trillion national budget for 2025, which focuses on aiding vulnerable sectors such as financially challenged students, farmers, fishermen, soldiers, and impoverished families.
Among the key adjustments in the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) is an additional ₱39.8 billion for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, which aims to provide immediate financial relief to those in need.
Given the overwhelming public support for the “Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program” (AKAP), the House of Representatives allocated an extra ₱39.8 billion to this financial assistance initiative, targeting Filipinos earning ₱21,000 or less per month.
This figure is nearly triple the ₱13 billion allocation for 2024.
Rep. Co emphasized that the AKAP program is designed for the “near poor” or “lower middle class,” including minimum wage earners who lack financial resources during emergencies, such as sudden family deaths, illnesses, job losses, or rapid price increases that could push them back into poverty.
Additionally, ₱3.4 billion has been set aside for the Sustainable Livelihood Program, which will support low-income families by offering livelihood opportunities.
Marikina Representative Stella Quimbo, Senior Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, underscored the importance of proactive measures in the proposed budget.
She noted that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) would receive an additional ₱20.28 billion for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) and the Government Internship Program.
To further support education, the committee approved an additional ₱30.01 billion for scholarships benefiting underprivileged college students, which will be divided between the Tertiary Education Subsidy and Tulong Dunong programs under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
The Department of Education (DepEd) will also receive an additional ₱7 billion for the construction and renovation of school facilities, addressing the urgent need for improved education infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will see a ₱8.44 billion increase in its subsistence allowance budget, raising the daily subsistence of military personnel by 67%, from the previous amounts to ₱250.
In response to calls from military personnel, House Speaker Martin Romualdez spearheaded the initiative for the subsistence fund increase.
To enhance food security, ₱30 billion has been allocated to the Philippine Irrigation Network Piping System under the Department of Agriculture, along with projects for solar-powered irrigation systems and cold storage facilities.
Additionally, ₱44 billion will go to the National Irrigation Administration for pump irrigation projects.
The Department of Health (DOH) will also benefit from an additional ₱56.87 billion to strengthen the Health Facility Enhancement Program, Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients, and legacy hospitals.
An extra ₱1 billion will be directed toward improving the services of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), a crucial part of the country’s healthcare system.